Modernising Government (and Modernising Local Government) is the name given to the programme launched by the current Labour government, aimed at providing accessible, quality, and inclusive services to the public. This programme is the latest in a series of initiatives for public sector reform, starting with the Conservative Government in the 1980’s, who launched measures to create a smaller and more efficient civil service through Privatisation and the setting up of Executive Agencies. Successive governments have built on previous experiences of reform, in order to refine and improve services to the public. Major recent developments in the UK include Devolution of power to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, impacting on how these countries manage themselves; access to government services through the internet; clearly defined national standards; improved interfaces with the voluntary and private sector (‘Joined-Up government); and the Best Value system for service in local government.
We are working with Israeli government ministries and training and development agencies in order to showcase UK best practice and expertise.
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In May 2006, Sir Jeremy Beecham and Sir Simon Milton visited Israel to speak at the Tel Aviv University Local Government Conference. The conference is designed to evoke public debate and academic research in subjects related to local government in Israel. The conference provides a central national platform for raising innovative ideas aimed at improving the functioning of local government in Israel, drawing together the academia and local government professionals.
In the framework of the conference, Sir Beecham spoke at a special workshop on coexistence through local government that took place in Jaffa. Sir Milton gave a keynote speech at a workshop on young leadership in local government, cosponsored by the British Council.
In the past, we have organised visits to the UK to learn about decentralisation and devolvement of authority in local government. Delegates have included representatives from the Ministry of Interior, Justice, Finance, and local municipalities.
We have also focussed on Arab mayors as part of the Sikkuy and Ministry of the Interior programme Towards Quality Local Government.
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Café Society is a place where the public can come to explore the latest ideas in governance issues. The format of the event is simple – a short introduction from the UK speaker on the topic for the night, a break for drinks and snacks then an open discussion – all via video-conference.The aim of Café Society is to provide a platform for a younger audience to come together on a multi-lateral basis to challenge and debate present day issues that influence and affect their lives
UK experts and over 60 enviormnmental activists, academics, students, politicians and journailists in Israel and Slovakia linked up for a Cafe Society on Community Public Space and Citizenship.
To introduce the debate audiences heard from organisations who have been at the forefront of exploring the connections between community public space and active citizenship in the UK.Peter Morgan, Senior Development Manager in Groundwork UK and Neil McInroy, Director of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES). Groundwork is a leading UK NGO working with communities to promote local involvement in the environment, public space and in local planning. CLES are a UK wide independent charitable organisation involved in regeneration, economic development and governance.
Neil asked the audiences to discuss Community Public Space in their country. Focusing on why it is important, what sort of people get involved with developing and changing it, what can be learnt about citizenship from working on it and finaly what can be done for improvement. After an in country discussion the link was re-established and audiences shared their views and experience. From the joint debate it was clear that there are many different challenges but there are also many similarities. Particiapnts came away with a better understanding of the international situations and with some concrete case studies from other countries.
We have a long standing partnership with JDC-ELKA, a local training and development agency, who work to increase the capacity of senior management in the public sector and social services. Through this project, we have exposed over 200 senior civil servants to UK experience through specially designed study tours and visits and ELKA are now integrating UK experience and expertise into many of their training programmes. A particular focus is the Executive Agency model which is the structure in which 80% of the UK civil service operates and delivers services to citizens. After a government function has been defined as an Executive Agency, day to day control and management is passed onto a senior chief executive ( often appointed from the private sector) and board, leaving central government the freedom to concentra te on policy and strategy rather than direct service delivery. |
| Agencies are given the freedom to work according to the methods most appropriate for their operating environment, rather than complying with more rigid civil service regulations and practices. |
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Ministries set their Agencies an annual budget and agreed objectives, and the overall guidelines for their operation are set out in a Framework Document. Their performance is monitored through the Cabinet Office’s Effective Performance Division, (reporting annually to Parliament) and 5 yearly reviews. Contact with ‘parent’ ministries is established through regular board meetings where the Ministry is represented |
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EFQM Excellence Model – the official model for Quality Benchmarking officially adopted by the British Cabinet Office has now also been acquired by the Israeli Civil Service Commission, for use in central and local government.
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